A few thoughts from being there "live"...............I wont bother with trying to do match reports as you no doubt saw most of the matches on the TV anyway.
Bally was never really in with a shout of winning though on others days she no doubt could. Pennetta was so consistent and professional, she kept getting the ball back, often to within 18/24" of the service line. Bally rallied with her but gradually slipped behind, tried to mix things up, had some success's but again was coming second. Went back to rallying but same thing. She didn't have her "A" game, it was all a bit sad as well beaten but you still felt "On another day..................."
I am sure much has been said about Kyle (I haven't read the threads). Given what happened at Eastbourne I think we all had a sneaky hope! Then he opened with the ace, held easy, fashioned a break point for 2-0. It all seemed so possible. Jerzy then stepped up and played like his ranking. A tall player, good game for grass, wont trouble the top 10 I wouldn't have thought but looks good for round 3 or 4 I'd have thought (haven't looked at the draw) Against Kyle it was suddenly man against boy or, top 25 player against emerging junior.........and why should I have held out hope for any different? To his credit, Kyle looked very composed, never let his head drop and his 3rd set was his best as he found his feet (a good sign surely?) The wild card was for experience and, if he learns from it as we all hopes he will, this will have been a good day for him.
I queued for court 12 and joined the Johanna match with her 1-6 down. Then was no sign of this as I watch the 2nd set, it was just over 50/50 in her favour up to 5-5. Jo looked full of belief, was matching Jelenas game who now looked as though the whole world was against her and, seemed there to be beaten. After so nearly taking the set at 5-4, a poor service game followed by Jo and 5 minutes later she had been dumped out of Wimbledon. It was sad, I guess always likely to happen but still a big disappointment on what had been leading up to a deciding set. Players either get over this and learn from it, or its always there and they reach a ceiling, not sure what will happen with Jo? The game is there, like so many others, the rest will depend on her head.
And so on to James Ward. I read a little of whats on the thread but not all. It was a classic game to watch as, there appeared a fag paper between them, there styles were similar, either man "could" have won. James opened well and took the first break point offered. He then failed to take one from the next 12 during the match, nor any of the numerous set points during the breakers. Lu suffered a similar thing though of course at least bagged a couple and, with it the match. Never had a match had so many "If only's"!
Of course I have never been where the players were but it is still frustrating that each players took longer to compose himself and often pull out serves to save themselves when facing 0-40 or 15-40. If that level of intensity was there every ball then they obviously wouldn't be there at that score to start with but, then again, I guess this applies to just about every ranked player bar the top 5 maybe? When the Brit is going toe to toe with a top 100 player, I swear to God its just whats between there ears that stops them being on the main tour. Nothing in life is ever that simple yet I'll take some persuading to shift my view on this point.
There were bad calls for both sides though I suspect not as many as what each player thought though. Lu always looked exasparated and laugh at how ridiculous he was being treated, James more arrogant towards the umpire as though he wasn't fit to be on the court. I cannot imagine the tension the players are under but, as a watcher you cannot wonder with all the coaches and head shrinks the players have not learned how much they harm themselves whilst they play out there pantomines.
From my lofty perch I saw a fair bit of the Dustin Brown match. He charges into the net, pumps up the crowd, all in all seemed quite a character and a joy to watch. He won as well.............................oh if only he were a Brit
Great report, Shhh. Always interesting to hear the courtside version.
PS I saw Dustin on two separate days in qualies and am also a big fan - how can you not be ? - tall, cool, dude, with dreadlocks down to his backside, jumping around like a basketball player and thrilling the crowd (and winning!). I guess Lewis Burton is thinking that his first round loss to him at 4 and 3 is not looking so bad !
Dustin Brown so nearly was a Brit, I'm guessing you knew that.....I saw his final round qualifying match on Wednesday, and I've seen him at Roehampton before. He would have been a wonderful asset to British tennis and would have gone a long way in helping us lose the "elitist" badge we sometimes wear. I can't get over how skinny he is though!!! His ankles are thinner than a big man's arms!
What time did you get to queue Shhh? I am thinking of going tomorrow but can't get there until 8am..too late?
Hi Seagull, from previous years I'd guess you'd get in by mid-day(??????) I think you'll be okay but every 10 mintues count at that time of day.
I was lucky enough to have a Court 3 ticket so walked in like I owned the place As I arrived at Southfields at 11am they were announcing not to go and join queue as capacity had been reached. It WAS silly busy inside but, I think first day adds a lot to that.
What time did you get to queue Shhh? I am thinking of going tomorrow but can't get there until 8am..too late?
Up to last year I went several years in a row, both my daughter and I entered the ballot and one or the other of us got tickets (in 2008, for TWO days including the men's final!)
I live too far away to go to the expense of going unless I have a ticket for one day, but I used to travel down on the overnight bus for the day before we had tickets, booking a hotel for the one night. The bus got in to Victoria just after 7am, and my daughter's bus from her home around the same time: we would buy something to eat and go straight to the queue, usually getting there about 8am. We always got in with ground passes and got in for 11.30-noon in the first week, and in the second week when there are not as many matches going on we several times got in almost as soon as the gates opened.
Went to Wimbledon yesterday and arrived in the queue at 8.30 due to much heavier traffic than we normally encounter on our route. Queue no 8348 didn't get into the grounds until 2pm. In previous years we have arrived around 8am with queue ticket about 5000, getting in before play starts. However this was the first time we've been on day 1 so not sure how much busier it is than on the following days. Not as many beverage vans as usual so very long slow queues. Although it did seem very busy inside, we managed to get onto each outside court we chose at the next change of ends.
